Jouni Meats Inc. in Sterling Heights has recalled about 500 pounds of ground beef products for possible Salmonella Typhimurium contamination following a report of illness at a restaurant that bought meat.

The Michigan Department of Community Health, Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, Arizona Department of Health Services, and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention - all working with the FSIS have determined that there is a link between the ground beef products sold from Jouni Meats, Inc. and this illness.

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Seven people have been sickened and identified in Michigan and Arizona, although it is not yet known how the patients in Arizona came to consume the ground beef from Michigan.

Those sickened are believed to have consumed raw beef on Dec. 7 and Dec. 8 prepared as Kibbeh - an Arab dish made of bulghur, minced onions and ground red meat.

FSIS and the company are concerned that consumers may have this product frozen in their freezers and advise people to only consume ground beef that has been cooked to a temperature of at least 160 degrees F.

Common symptoms of Salmonella infection include: diarrhea, abdominal cramps and fever and can appear within 12 to 72 hours of infection. Symptoms may also include chills, headache, nausea and vomiting and can last up to seven days. Although most people get better without treatment, illness could be more serious in older adults, infants, and persons with chronic diseases.

Consumers infected should drink plenty of fluids and get rest. If you cannot drink enough fluids to prevent dehydration or if your symptoms are severe, call your doctor. Antibiotics may be necessary if the infection spreads from the intestines to the blood stream.